New hospital RN...hating it

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Hello everyone, first off I just want to explain my situation. I've been an LPN working in a hospital for 2 years now, just got my RN in July and I got a job in the same hospital I was working in. In the beginning when I worked as an LPN in the hospital, I ddn't really like it and was always stressed and anxious going into work. I thought I would like it more being an RN thinking I would have more say and more knowledge on my patients. I am currently training and am 5 weeks in with my preceptor. Right now, I HATE IT...even when I was in school I thought to myself "I don;t want to work in the hospital as an RN" because I always saw how stressed out the RN's were and I never wanted that. The reason why I took the position was because I did get it right away, and thought I was lucky that I got an RN job right away, and I do have bills to pay as well. But at this point I;m just thinking is it worth the stress to be unhappy about going into work? I don;t want to quit but I do want to loom for other jobs but I don;t even know where to start. I want to work somewhere outpatient, or just something with less stress that I would be happy to do! I love the nursing field, I just hate the hospital. The only thing I like is the pay and the hours but I just feel so lost right now, and kind of like a failure. I want to stick it out for a while, but I just know I don't want my nursing future to be in the hospital setting. And, if I leave now I don't want that to look bad on resume if I leave too soon, is this true? I just really don't like the stress they put on us in the hospital where you are supposed to know everything about your patient, but when it's so busy how is that possible? I feel like I quickly forget things about my patients and I'm not confident in my assessment skills either, I feel like I do the basic assessments but I'm not getting the big picture about my patients and I feel petrified to be on my own in the end. Going from LPN is a little easier than no experience at all, but I hate having all the responsibility.Sorry to vent so much, but I am in dire need of some advice :unsure:

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Stay, learn everything you can, become better at understanding the big picture and become better at your assessments. Master common meds, signs and symptoms etc.. With the golden 1 year experience move to home health or something to your liking. You will have learned trouble shooting, wound care, dressing changes etc to be able to stand on your own in a different setting.

The first several months to a year as a new RN is difficult and very stressful but it does get easier and yes, you will learn to put it all together.. Give yourself a little more time to get comfortable in your new role, give yourself time to build confidence. Is it stressful; without a doubt but it is doable. This is the initial shock stage, I wanted to run for the hills, but instead I bought and toughed it out. The first 3 months on my own was the hardest. By 6 months I didn't need as much help and by a year I was in the ICU still asking questions, still learning but was happy. Hospital nursing is not for everyone but don't run away until you have given it a chance.

If after 3-6 months, you still feel this way.. Start looking but don't leave this job until you have another one in hand. Each setting will have its own learning curve that is tough in the beginning :) I wish you the best, keep us posted

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Thank you I appreciate you writing back. I just really don't know if I'm cut out for hospital nursing, btw everyone is and I'm so miserable going to work every day and constantly anxious. I'm not going to just quit right now but I think I am going to look into other jobs. I feel like I let myself down but I'm really not happy where I am right now. ?

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

What you feel is normal.. All new grads including myself left this same way. It is a shock.. I would hate for you to give up so soon only to fine the same problems elsewhere.. Read what many new grads are going through and see if it helps. Good luck to you

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I agree that you should stay. At least a year, just so you are not a "new grad" anymore. Plus, you are in a health system and you can move within that system. Make the connections where you are and when you are ready, start applying to outpatient clinics within your network. You should have some pretty good recommendations from your nurse manager by that time as well.

However, if you feel that you are I the point where you are putting your license in jeopardy, re-think staying. You license is that most important thing, protect it!

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Thank you, it does make me feel better knowing other people felt the same way. It just sucks right now because I get so anxious and honestly feel like I learned nothing in nursin school! Lol I feel like I don't know how to be a nurse and the hospital is so fast paced that doesn't help with my anxiety either. I am going to try and stick it out for as long as I can though, I don't want to just quit. Hopefully I will start to feel better soon. Thanks again for your kinds words!

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I know exactly how you feel. I am a new grad and just gave my 2 weeks notice at my job in the ER yesterday after 6 months. I hated the constant anxiety and feeling like I knew nothing. I could not keep up with my patients, was always behind, and found myself at times discharging people I hadn't even had time to see or assess. I always thought I wanted to do the ER but now I'm not so sure. I feel like I don't remember anything from school, really feel like a failure right now. Should be an interesting next 2 weeks, I have a feeling it is going to be 2 weeks of hell. I feel lost and don't know where I want to go or what I want to do now :(

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Well, I also work as an LVN (I am in California) for 2 years, and I got my RN license in August this year. It's really about how you adapt to your work place and learn to be a nurse. Nursing will have some types of stress, and it takes time to develop your professionalism. And for most people, the first 1-2 years is the most difficult time since you are still very new to the field.

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Sorry for the situation. You should consider start working in med-surg first in order to develop your nursing skills and critical thinking. It takes time to do it. Eventually, what you learned from school will come back to you.

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I know exactly how you feel. I am a new grad and just gave my 2 weeks notice at my job in the ER yesterday after 6 months. I hated the constant anxiety and feeling like I knew nothing. I could not keep up with my patients, was always behind, and found myself at times discharging people I hadn't even had time to see or assess. I always thought I wanted to do the ER but now I'm not so sure. I feel like I don't remember anything from school, really feel like a failure right now. Should be an interesting next 2 weeks, I have a feeling it is going to be 2 weeks of hell. I feel lost and don't know where I want to go or what I want to do now :(

Sorry to hear that...hopefully you will find something! Thanks everyone for your posts. I am taking it day by day for now but yea I just hate the constant anxiety. I have heard a lot of new grads feel like this so it makes me feel better to know that. I just want to be a good nurse and want to know everything I need to know and I don't feel like that right now lol! I just want to be prepared to be on my own in 3 weeks and I get anxiety even thinking about it right now.

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Sorry for the situation. You should consider start working in med-surg first in order to develop your nursing skills and critical thinking. It takes time to do it. Eventually, what you learned from school will come back to you.

I am working in med-surg right now. You're right, I guess it just takes some time to adjust to my new role as an RN.

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Thank you, it does make me feel better knowing other people felt the same way. It just sucks right now because I get so anxious and honestly feel like I learned nothing in nursin school! Lol I feel like I don't know how to be a nurse and the hospital is so fast paced that doesn't help with my anxiety either. I am going to try and stick it out for as long as I can though, I don't want to just quit. Hopefully I will start to feel better soon. Thanks again for your kinds words!

Have you thought about talking to a therapist about your anxiety? I am currently waiting to get into nursing school and working at a job I hate. I am on a wait list at one school and the other schools in my area are lottery style selection. I know for sure I will start nursing school in THREE YEARS when my wait list number is set to come up or I could get lucky in the lottery before that. However, about three months ago when I started this job and realized that I would be working here for about three years if I don't get lucky in the lottery, I developed extreme anxiety and I had never had anything like that before. I started seeing a therapist and after my second session, she really helped me to get my head on straight and feel better. After my fourth visit I felt like me again. I had a better outlook on my situation and I am finally thinking positively again! And, I actually have found things about my job that aren't so bad! :) I would suggest talking to someone professional, sometimes you just need a stranger to listen and build you up!

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